On December 21st, 2020, Lebanese legislators chose to reinforce and multiply the oppression of women exploited in the sex industry, prohibited by Lebanese law, and reassert the equal treatment of both the exploited and their exploiters, in the benefit of sex buyers who are still, for the vast majority, male consumers exempted of any legal or moral responsibility.
In case of adultery, Iraqi judges will be satisfied with a phone message or voice call as evidence of a wife’s betrayal. Yet, when the husband is concerned, they require the wife to produce four witnesses …
“I would wait for hours behind the school’s fence until I got to see them when they got their one-hour recess in the playground”. Badiya points as she drives her car near the school’s playground located on the outskirts of Nabatiyeh, South of Lebanon.
One day, she asked her father why he sent her there. The reason was simple: he happened to think her education mattered; even if it meant risking the rest of the village judging him for what was still considered an act that brings shame to the family’s name.
It is sad that these so-called “erotic parties”, occupied the headlines within days, instead of the term “rape”, in addition to the ignorant views the word “gay parties” harbor. These “parties” harbor features of chaos and unrest on the one hand, and the upper and influential classes on the other.
The law in Yemen is selective and discriminatory against women, focusing it’s restrictions on the shops and centers where they worked, while other shops belonging to men were left open without any threats.
Why now? Why are women daring to expose harassers and supporters of their abuse? This is happening because women are angry and tired of waiting for the law and protection.
In the alleys of the “al-Shati” (the beach) Palestinian refugee camp, west of Gaza, Marah Hassouna walks around carrying a bag packed with her sportswear and scooter.
